Adjustable ladder leg



May 14, 1940. .-1. G. BREWER ADJUSTABLE LADDER LEG Filed Dec. l2, 1938 ATTORN EYS kINVENTOR Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE -N 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and improved ladders and more particularly to an adjustable leg for use therewith.-

'I'he primary object of the invention is to profvide an adjustable leg adapted for attachment to a step ladder whereby said ladder may be used with convenience and safety upon a stairway or other uneven surfaces and which may also be used on floors or other level surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable legadapted for attachment to a step ladder comprising a pair of telescoping members having means for holding the members in adjusted relation. A pair of arms associated With. the telescoping members serve as a means for attaching the device to the side bars of the step ladder which arms are so formed as to be readily attachable and detachable from said ladder, and a brace or spacing means is also carried by the telescoping members the free end of which is adapted to contact a step of the ladder for retaining the telescoping members in spaced relation thereon.

-The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the application.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a step ladder having the adjustable leg attached thereto and shown in use.

\ Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View and illustrating the relation of the telescoping members.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof wherein there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, a step ladder is indicated generally by the reference numeral III and comprises parallel side bars II and a series of steps I2 secured thereto in the conventional manner. To complete the construction of the step ladder, a second pair of side bars I3 are pivotally attached at I4 to spaced braces carried by the top step I6. In the normal use of the ladder, the side bars I3 swing about the pivot I4 to form spaced leg members which provide a firm supporting structure.

When painters, paper hangers, or other ar- I tisans are 'working upon stairways, it is necessary to employ a ladder having an adjustable leg to be positioned on one of the steps of the stairs. The conventional step ladder or'straight ladder is not adaptable for this use. However, by means of the present invention an adjustable leg can be attached to a step ladder or straight ladder thereby providing the necessary support for the painter or paper hanger working upon stairways. Referring particularly to Figure 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that the adjustable leg indicated generally bythe reference numeral I'I comprises a hollow tube-like member I8 telescopically receiving therein the tube-like member I9 said' membersA being held in adjusted relation by thev fastening means 2l). 'I'he extending'end of the tube I9 is bent at an angle as indicated at `2| to overcome the angle of the leg when contacting the stairs. A plate 22 is attached to the extendin g end of the tube I9 and carries thereon a shoe member 23, said shoe being formed of 'rubber or similar materialA to assure a rm gripping surface. The inner portion of the tube I8 has formed therein a longitudinal groove 24 for receiving the projections 25 formed on the tube I9 which serve Yto maintain said tubes in true position for proper sliding relation.

It is preferred that the adjustable leg II be detachably connected to the ladder IIJ and for accomplishing this purpose there is provided a plate 26 attached, by any desired means to the upper end of the tubular member I8 and extends laterally on both sides thereof to form projecting ends. Each end of the plate 26 is formed with an opening for receiving the arms 2l and 28 respectively, the upper end of said arms being bent substantially at right angles to form an offset portion for attachment to the side bars of the step ladder. The offset portion indicated at 29 is held on the side bar II by a Wedge action and when placed on the ladder will firmly retain the arms in position thereon. In the formation of the arms 21 and 28, it is preferred that the offset portion 29 be substantially heavier than the major portion of the arms for providing the necessary wedging action.

The other ends of the arms 21 and 28 are journalled in ears 30 extending from and forming a part of the cylindrical sleeve 3l which sleeve is slidable on the tube-like member I8 and held in adjusted relation by the wing bolt 32. The arms 2'! and 28 are anixed to the ears 3U by riveting or other means.

When using the adjustable leg member it has been found desirable to employ a brace to retain 5 a proper angular relation between the ladder and the leg member and referring to Figure 4 of the drawing it will be noted that there is provided a brace in the form of laterally diverging members 33 and 34 pivotally secured to the extending ear 35 of the, cylindrical sleeve 3|. The braces 33 and 34 comprise Lhollow members' slidably receiving therein the arms 35 and 36, the ends of which are fork-shaped as indicated at 31 for engagement with one of the steps I2 of the ladder, best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. It is tobe.

understood that the arms 35 and 3G are adjustably supported within members 33'and 34 to aocommodate the variation in the angle of the adjustable leg member and the ladder when used on the steps of stairs.

When desiring to use the ladder with'- the legsof two different heights, the ladder is rstfolded as shown in Figure l of the drawing, The sleeve 31| is then loosened so as to be freely slidablev on 25, the tube-like member I8, whereupon tne oiset portions of the arms 2Tand 28 are positioned on the upper endsof the side bars Il. The braces 33 and 34 are then brought into engagement with an appropriate step of the ladder and the cylindrical sleeve tightened by means of the wing bolt 32 to the tube I8. The leg member l1 is then adjusted to the proper height by telescoping the tubes i8 and I9 and locking them in adjusted position by the locking screw 2). It 3m will thus be seen that a conventional step ladder or the like can be provided with an adjustable leg member that will permit adjustingV the legs of said ladder to different heights thereby permitting its practical use on stairs.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described ldevice involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devicesv described are intended to be comprehended with- 45s in the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not conned to the exactshowing ofthe drawing nor to the precise construction `described and, therefore, such changes and modifications nfmay be made therein as do not aectithespirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereoas expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is: 1. An adjustable leg for ladders comprising a 5,51 pair of telescoping members, a plate carried by and extending laterally on each side of one end of said members, a pair of arms slidably disposed in said plate, one end of said arms having means for attachment to the ladder and the other end for attachment to said members, means for holding said members in adjusted relation, and means for retaining said members in spaced relation on said ladder.

2. An adjustable leg for ladders comprising a hollow tube-like member, a second tube-like member telescoping within said rst member, means for holding said tube-like members in adjusted relation, a plate attached to the upper end of the hollow tube-like member and extending laterally beyond both sides thereof, a sleeve slidably disposed exteriorly of said hollow tube-like member, an arm disposed in each end of said plate, one endlof said arms having means for attachment to the ladder, the other end of said arms attached to said sleeve, and a pair of forked arms pivotally connected to said sleeve for Contact with said ladder for bracing and retaining said tubular members thereon.

3. An adjustable leg for ladders comprising, a hollow tube-like member, a second tube-like member telescoping within said rst member, means for holding said tube-like members in adjusted relation, a plate attached to the upper end of said hollow tube-like member and extending laterally on eachside thereof, a sleeve slidably disposed exteriorly of said hollow tube-like member, an arm disposed in each end of said plate and having means on one end thereof for attachment to the ladder, means for attachinggthe;

other end of said arms to said sleeve, and means for retaining said telescoping members in spaced relation on saidflad-der.

4. An adjustable leg for ladders comprising,V a hollow tube-like member, a second tube-likemember telescopingl within saidrst memben. means for holding said tube-like members` in ad-` justed` relation, a plate attached to the uppery endl of the hollow tube-like member and extending;

laterally, beyond both sides thereof, a sleeveslidably disposed exteriorly of said` hollow tube-like member, anarm disposed in each endof said plate, oneA end of said arms havingmeans for.

attachment to the ladder,` the other end ofisaid arms attached to said sleeve, and a` pairofforked arms pivotallyl connected to said sleeve fon contact witlrsaid; ladder for bracing and, retaining..` said tubular members thereon, said forked arms` being slidably; disposed in` tube-like members diverging from said slidable sleeve.

JOHN GUY BREWER. 

